 |
 |
|
Northern Ireland’s Boyzone fans have been reassured that their Belfast shows will go ahead next month
following Keith Duffy’s emergency operation for a double hernia. The Boyzone star and former Coronation Street actor was taken into hospital in Dublin with stomach pains after
taking part in the London Marathon on Sunday. Duffy — who ran the marathon with fellow band member Ronan Keating — underwent surgery on Tuesday
to correct a double hernia and is recovering from the operation. A statement on the band’s website said the 34-year-old Dubliner was expected to be back to full health
in time for Boyzone’s sold-out tour, which kicks off in Belfast on May 24. The band will play a second date at the Odyssey Arena on May 25. The statement said: “Doctors have told Keith that with a little rest he should be back on his feet in
good time for the Boyzone tour.” Duffy completed the marathon in three hours and 50 minutes, with Keating following on in four hours and 15.
Keith Duffy's father has denied newspaper reports that his son has fallen ill due to complications after having
a tattoo. Seán Duffy said that the Boyzone singer became sick as a result of what appears to be a severe food allergy. He said that his son is due to return to hospital for more tests later today. Keith Duffy had been due to join the other members of Boyzone for the opening of a clothes shop owned
by his father in Thomas Street in Dublin this morning Thursday May 01 2008 The former Coronation Street actor got a new tattoo done last Tuesday morning but by that afternoon he started
to feel sick and soon his arm, leg and part of his face swelled up. Keith was taken to A&E and was kept in hospital overnight when doctors feared he may have contracted septicemia.
The dad of two was released from hospital but told to rest in bed for several days until the swelling went
down and he started to feel better. As a result, both he and fellow member Shane Lynch missed a Boyzone appearance at Merlin Car Auctions off the Naas Road. Shane – who has numerous tattoos – was meant to travel down in Keith's car with him, but had to
cancel when Keith fell ill. Bandmate Ronan Keating said: “He has gone through a pretty horrific experience. He basically has a form of blood poisoning and it could have been very serious if they didn’t take action
straight away.” INJECTIONS Keith was gasping for breath and sweating heavily by the time he arrived at the emergency room. He received a series of injections and doctors monitored his heart. Manager Louis Walsh said: “All I know is that Keith is very sick and is at home in bed. And we're worried about the upcoming
Tubridy Tonight appearance this Saturday by the band. “We'll just have to see how he is. They suspect it's some sort of blood poisoning after the tattoo.”
Louis revealed how rehearsals for their comeback tour had been going really well until Keith went down. “There's a great vibe in the band at the moment. Everybody is enjoying it and having a ball. I wish
it had always been like this.”
Wednesday April 16 2008 BOYZONE star Keith Duffy is breeding new life into Dublin institution "Frawleys" by joining forces with his
dad to re-open the store. The Evening Herald can reveal how it’s going to be a family affair for the Dublin star as he joins his
father Sean to launch a shop for clothes in larger sizes on the site of Liberties institution. There was huge sadness among the tight-knit southside community after the familyowned store, which sold everything
from lace curtains to communion dresses, finished trading last June after 115 years. Described as the end of an era when it shut up shop last summer, there were some suggestions that the multi-million
euro site would be used to build apartments. CONNECTIONS Yet thanks to Keith’s immediate family connections in the famous shop, the store has now been re-opened
under a new name ‘Plus and Minus’ and is also gearing itself towards a slightly bigger market. “My dad worked in Frawley’s for more than 30 years as the buyer in the menswear department and
about ten years ago, he starting doing clothes for bigger sizes, starting from XL and going all the way up and he found there
was a huge market for it,” Keith explained. “He’s basically been working since he was 12 and when the news of Frawley’s closure first
came out, he decided he wasn’t ready to just retire so he decided to take over the shop with two friends, including
a woman named Geraldine – who was the buyer for the womenswear – so they all have years of experience between
them. I’m one of the directors in the company and it’s been going really well.” And Keith’s dad decided to stick with the familiar when it came to the new store’s merchandising
as the shop’s now specialising in plus size clothes for men and women, alongside a separate section for babies. “They’re basically cool clothes for bigger people. My dad had a loyal client base that used to
come into Frawley’s saying to him ‘where are we going to get our clothes once it closes?’ A lot of the stuff
are clothes that you can’t buy in your average high street store as it would be things like extra large jackets and
trousers with waists that go up to 60 inches,” he continued. QUEUES The singer, who’ll join his fellow bandmates for the start of Boyzone’s reunion tour in London
on May 30, has admitted he was amazed at the reaction to the reopening from locals. “We opened the shop last Friday and there was a queue a mile long out the door with all the people waiting
to get in, it was unbelievable,” he added. Now he’s busy planning to give the store an A-list re-opening on Thursday May 1. He’s pulling
in all his contacts from the showbiz world to ensure there’s a healthy helping of celebs at the launch party, including
Boyzone and a host of his You’re A Star pals. He has also revealed how a Dublin radio station will be broadcasting live from the Thomas Street store on
the day.
Keith and the rest of the boyz
|
|
|
|
|
|
